Condiment holder



May 26, 1931. G, F, KRAFT r 1,807,160

CONDIHENT HOLDER Filed June 20. 1928 1N V EN TOR.

ATTOREY.

Patented May 26, 1931 j UNITEA STATES Gus'rsv n. KRAFT, orxnivsss CITY, ivrrssouni coNnnvrnN'r `norman Application inea amie 1928. serial No. 286,840.

The present inventionrelates to rcondiment holders, and. aims to provide a novel and improved device ofthe combined vsalt and pepper box type, having removable salt and pepper containers, and a closure element adaptedv to form a closure for either or both of said containers.

Accordingly, l have devised a construction comprising a pair of containers adapted to be removably held in position with their upper ends embraced by a housing member having a continuous web portion extending lengthwise between and the full lengt1 n of the containers, and having provision for detachably securing a base member to the lower end of the web member. ln the preferred form of the construction, the base member cooperates with the top or housing portion for retaining the receptacles in assembled relation.

With the foregoing object in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form of the improved construction which l have devised fo-r embodying the invention, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel will be set forth and claimed.

In the drawingsw Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating a condiment holder constructed in .accordance with my invention;

Figure 1a is a similar fragmentary View illustrating the upper or closure portion of the device, looking at the same at right angles to the plane of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the device;

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional view taken on the line Ill- III of Figure 2;

Figure 8a is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to the top portion of Figure 3, but illustrating the closure element partly turned for unclosing one set of the shaker openings; Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, representing a. section on the line V-V of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on 50 the line VI-VI of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, this illustrates the improved construction as comprising a pair of salt and pep-per containers 10 of duplicate form, of substantially semi-circular cross section, but tapering lon- 55 gitudinally downward as represented in Figure 3. rlhe containers are adapted to be held in assembled relation between a base member 12 and an upper or housing portion 14 of upwardly tapered form and adapted to fit 60 over the upper ends of the containers 10 by means of a. marginal flange portion 14. The interior of the housing member 14 is divided by a web 30 into a pair of outlet chambers 15 adapted to be brought into communi- G5 cation with the upper ends of the containers, each of said compartments 15 being provided with a set of shaker outlet' openings 16 for which a closure element comprising an approXimately-conical casing 17 is provided, '70 having a. set of shaker openings 18 foreach 'set of openings 16. The closure element 17 is secured. in position by means of a capy screw 2 0 threaded into the upper end of the housing member 14, a coil spring 22 being fitted 75 within a shallow recess 23 about the shank of the screw (asrepresented in Figures 3 and 3a) for retaining the closure element in yielding frictional engagement with the outer face of the housing 14.

rilhe lower margin of the closure element 17 is provided atv diametrically opposite points with a finger-engaging. projection 25 for convenience in manipulating the closure element for the purpose of bringing either of the sets of openings 16--17 into register,`according to the container from which it is desiredA to shake-the contents. The openings 18 of the closure element 17 are 'so related to the openings 16 ofv the housing member 90 that the closure element may be turnedinto a position for closing `both sets of openings 16 as represented in Figure 3, or for opening either of said setsiof openings 16 while maintaining the other set closed, as represented in vFigure 3a. Preferably,- a small opening 27 is provided in the closure element 17 adjacent to each of the nger projections 25 for exposing an index mark such as the letters P and S, standing for the words pepm0 per and salt respectively, which will be exposed through said openings 27, according to the registering positions of the openings 16-18. A detent element 28 on the inner face of the closure member, riding in a short channel 29 formed in the adjacent face of the housing 14, serves to limit the movements of the closure member,-see Figure 5.

The central web 30 forming the partition between the chambers 15 within the housing member 14 is extended `on' down lengthwise andthe full length of the containers 10 as indicated at 30 to form a partition member between the same, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the lower end of the extension 3'0 serving as a means for detachably securing the base member l2, as represented in Figure v3. For this purposevth'e lower end of the web extension 30 is formed with a pair of not-ches or recesses 32 for retaining engagement with a pair of ribs 34- provided within the recess T35 in the top of the base member 12, the notches 32 being brought into engagement with said ribs '34 by insertion of the lower cnd of the web extension 30 through the diametricall,Y opposite recesses between the ribs 34, as shown in Figure 6i; after which a partialturn of the base member secures'` it in retaining relation with the web 30 with the lower ends of the containers 10 seated vwithin the top 'of the base member, as shown in Figure 8.

Preferably, a slight shoulder formation 37 is provided at opposite sides of the web 30-30 for engagement Vwith the inside straight edges of the containers in order to prevent any kof the contents from sifting down between the web and the containers.

. The lower end kof the web extension 3Q also carries a leaf spring element 40 tted within a central opening 41 and having the ends of said spring 40 engaging and seating within shallow grooves 42 provided in the bottom of each of the containers 10. This structure prevents any loose play in the parts Vafter being assembled, and also guards against any later-al shifting tendency of the containers (relative to the base 12) by virtue ofthe spring 40 engaging the grooves 42.

It will thus be seen that Ihave provided avery neat, attractive as well as useful and efficient construction for carrying out the desired objects of the invention. Theconstruction is such as is adapted to be embodied in anlattractive and ornate design, simulating a single shaker unit, while at the same time .possessing all the advantages of a shaker device having two separate compartments for holding two different kinds of condiments.

VVhil-e I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred form of construction for embodying the invention, I desire to reserve the right tomake all such 'changes or modifications as may fairly fall within "thescope 'ofthe 'appended claims.

Y2%` K' Y 1,807,160

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A condiment holder comprising a pair of containers, a housing member having a discharge compartment for each of said containers, an extension from said housing memberfprojecting between said containers, and a base member detachably fitted to the lower end of said extension and embracing the lower ends of both containers, the upper portion of said extension being formed with shoulders fitting over the upper inner margins of the containers to prevent sifting of the contents down between the extension and containers.

2. A condiment holder comprising aipair of containers, a housing member having a discharge compartment for each of said con tainers, an extension from said housing mem'- ber projecting between said containers, a base member detachably fitted to the lower end of said extension and embracing the lower ends of both containers, and aspring carried by the lower end of said extension, the lower ends of said containers being formed with grooves having retaining engagement with the ends of said spring.

.In witness whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

i GUsTAv F. KRAFT. 

